Effect of early neurodevelopmental therapy in normal and at-risk survivors of neonatal intensive care

Abstract

At a corrected age of 3 months, 80 low birth-weight infants were assigned to normal or at-risk groups on the basis of a neurodevelopmental assessment scale. Both groups were further divided into intervention and non-intervention sub-groups (20 infants in each). Intervention consisted of monthly hospital-based neurodevelopmental therapy in addition to a home exercise programme. Infants were re-assessed by a physiotherapist at 6, 9, and 12 months, and were tested at 12 months by an independent psychologist blinded for infant group. Mean birthweight and gestational age were similar for normal and at-risk groups. At-risk infants had higher mean neurodevelopmental scores throughout the study period and lower 1-year development quotients (DQ) than normals. In neither normal nor at-risk groups did neurodevelopmental therapy alter the pattern of development or the outcome.